Embracing God's Word: Faith, Obedience, and Miracles
Summary
In my sermon, I began by emphasizing the importance of God's words and how they are not empty or aimless, but rather filled with purpose and power. I reminded the congregation that God is a God who speaks, and He desires to communicate His plans to us. I stressed the need for a posture of heart that is open, willing, and humble to receive what God wants to say. I shared the biblical account of Mary, a young virgin from Nazareth, who received a life-changing message from the angel Gabriel. Despite her initial fear and confusion, Mary's response was one of faith and submission to God's will, declaring, "Behold, the bondservant of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word."
I then shared a personal testimony of a time when I was out of work and seeking employment. After a period of rest and attending to household tasks, I felt the Lord impress upon my heart that within a month, I would have a job offered to me. Despite the lack of immediate opportunities, I held onto that word from God, and exactly a month later, I was offered a job by Fitzgerald Contractors, a civil engineering company. This experience taught me that our response to God's word can have a profound impact not only on us but also on those around us.
I recounted another instance at a camp where I was challenged to give all the money I had during a missionary offering. Despite my initial resistance, I felt God prompting me to give the full amount. After doing so, I was miraculously provided for by others who felt led to give to me, reinforcing the principle that we cannot outgive God, and our motive for giving should never be to receive.
I spoke about the importance of hearing God as the doorway to the miraculous, citing examples from Scripture where individuals like Abraham, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah heard from God and saw His power manifest. I encouraged the congregation to develop their ability to hear God, as He desires to have conversations with us and guide us in our daily lives.
I also touched on the concept of carrying God's word with patience and perseverance, using Mary as an example of someone who treasured and pondered God's promises throughout her life. I explained that God's words often require us to stretch and be shaped by them, rather than trying to make them fit our own desires or expectations.
Finally, I concluded by emphasizing that God's words are fulfilled by faith and are supernatural in nature. They often speak into barren, desolate, or dead situations with creative authority, and our role is to hear, believe, and declare them, trusting in God's timing for their fulfillment.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's words are purposeful and powerful, and He is always seeking to communicate His plans to us. We must cultivate a heart posture that is open and humble to receive His words, understanding that they are meant to guide us and align us with His will. ([02:45])
2. Our response to God's word is crucial, as it not only shapes our own lives but also impacts those around us. When we act in faith, based on what God has spoken, we become living testimonies of His faithfulness and provision. ([11:13])
3. The act of giving, especially when prompted by God, is not about the amount but the obedience and trust behind it. When we give as God directs, He is faithful to provide for our needs, often in unexpected ways. ([17:13])
4. Hearing from God is essential for experiencing the miraculous in our lives. As we grow in our relationship with God and learn to recognize His voice, we will find guidance and wisdom for every situation we face. ([47:08])
5. Carrying God's word requires patience and perseverance. Like Mary, we must hold onto the promises God has given us, allowing them to shape and stretch us, and trust that in His perfect timing, they will be fulfilled. ([49:02])
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 1:26-38 - The Annunciation to Mary
2. Isaiah 55:10-11 - God's Word Will Not Return Void
3. Hebrews 6:12 - Patience and Perseverance in Faith
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Mary's initial reaction to the angel Gabriel's message, and how did she ultimately respond? (Luke 1:26-38)
2. According to Isaiah 55:10-11, what is the purpose of God's words, and what assurance do we have about their fulfillment?
3. In the sermon, what personal experience did the pastor share about receiving a job offer after a period of waiting? ([08:50])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Mary's response to the angel Gabriel's message demonstrate a posture of humility and faith? (Luke 1:38)
2. What does Isaiah 55:10-11 teach us about the nature of God's words and their impact on our lives?
3. How can the pastor's testimony about receiving a job offer after a month of waiting encourage us to trust in God's timing and provision? ([10:30])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God was speaking to you. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? ([49:40])
2. In what ways can you cultivate a heart posture that is open, willing, and humble to receive God's words? ([02:45])
3. How can you apply the principle of giving with obedience and trust, as illustrated by the pastor's experience at the camp? ([17:13])
4. What steps can you take to develop your ability to hear God's voice more clearly in your daily life? ([47:08])
5. Think of a promise or word from God that you are currently holding onto. How can you practice patience and perseverance in waiting for its fulfillment? ([49:02])
6. How can you share your journey of faith and experiences of hearing from God with others to encourage them? ([11:13])
7. Identify a barren or desolate situation in your life. How can you declare God's word over it with faith, trusting in His creative authority? ([44:42])
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing God's Communicative Nature
God's words are not mere sounds in the void; they are imbued with divine intention and transformative power. To truly benefit from this divine communication, one must approach with a heart that is not only open but also eager and humble, ready to receive and act upon the heavenly messages. This openness is the soil in which the seeds of God's words can take root and flourish, guiding individuals along the path He has set for them. It is a journey of alignment, where one's will bends to mirror the divine will, leading to a life that resonates with purpose and fulfillment.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." - Psalm 119:105
Reflection: How can you cultivate a more receptive heart to hear God's voice in your daily life?
Day 2: Faith's Role in Divine Provision
The response to God's word is a critical juncture in one's spiritual journey. It is not merely an intellectual acknowledgment but an active, faith-filled engagement that can shape destinies. When God speaks, it is an invitation to trust beyond the visible and tangible, to step into a realm where His promises, though yet unseen, are as certain as the ground beneath one's feet. This trust is not passive; it is a dynamic force that propels one into action, often leading to outcomes that serve as a testament to God's faithfulness and provision for both the individual and those within their sphere of influence.
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." - Hebrews 11:6
Reflection: Recall a time when acting on God's word led to unexpected provision in your life.
Day 3: The Heart Behind Our Giving
Giving, as directed by God, is an act that transcends the material value of the gift. It is a profound expression of obedience and trust in the Provider, rather than the provision itself. When one gives in accordance with divine prompting, it is a declaration of faith in God's limitless resources and His ability to meet needs in ways that defy human logic. This kind of giving is not a transaction but a transformation, a moment where the giver's heart aligns with the generous heart of God, and in this alignment, they often find that their own needs are met in abundance.
"Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." - Luke 6:38
Reflection: What is God prompting you to give today, and how can you trust Him to provide for your needs in return?
Day 4: The Doorway to the Miraculous
Hearing from God is not a rare, mystical experience reserved for a select few; it is the birthright of every believer and the gateway to the miraculous. As one grows in their relationship with God, the ability to discern His voice becomes clearer, guiding them through life's complexities. This divine dialogue is the source of wisdom, strength, and direction. It is in the quiet moments of listening that one can find the courage to face the impossible, armed with the knowledge that the God who speaks is also the God who acts.
"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." - Jeremiah 33:3
Reflection: What steps can you take to become more attuned to hearing God's voice in your daily life?
Day 5: Patience in Carrying God's Promise
The journey of faith is often a marathon, not a sprint. Carrying God's word requires a steadfastness of spirit, a patience that is willing to wait for the fullness of time when promises bloom into reality. Like Mary, who pondered the angel's message in her heart, believers are called to treasure the words given to them, allowing these divine seeds to grow and stretch them into the likeness of Christ. It is in this patient waiting and pondering that faith is refined and character is built, preparing one for the moment when God's words unfold in their life with beautiful precision.
"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31
Reflection: What promise are you holding onto today, and how can you demonstrate patience and trust in God's timing for its fulfillment?
Quotes
"God talks because He wants to reveal something to us, His people. And God is a God who talks. He talks in the Old Testament, He talks in the New Testament, and God is a God who wants to talk today. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. He's a God who always wants to talk, who always wants to communicate, who always wants to show His people what His plans are." [02:45]
"And Mary said, Behold, the bondservant of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her. Now at this time Mary arose and went with haste to the hill country, to the city of Jerusalem, to Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elizabeth." [06:28]
"What came out of my mouth was, within a month you'll have a job and somebody's going to give it to you. Liz remembered it. Remember this? And Liz said to me, Dad, do you realize that going to give it to you? When you start there on Monday, it's a month to the day since you said that, sat around the coffee table." [11:13]
"God says, you can never give me more than I can give you, son. He says, but your motive for giving is not to receive. You're not to receive. You're not to receive. You're not to receive. You're not to receive. You're not to receive. You're not to receive. You're not to receive." [17:13]
"Having the ability to hear God, like that woman in the wheelchair at Spring Harvest, having the ability to hear God is the doorway to the miraculous. Every miracle in Scripture is open to everybody that needs it. But the ability to hear God, is the doorway to the miraculous." [47:08]
"Carrying God's word requires patience and perseverance, Hebrews 6 verse 12. Mary carried God's prophecies throughout her life. She treasured them, the Bible says, and pondered them in her heart. Like Mary, when we hear God's words, we must believe them and allow them to shape us and stretch us." [49:02]
"So many people say to me, I don't know how to listen to God. You know what I say to them? Listen. And they're going, No, that's it. Listen. See, the truth is, God, there's never been a time in my life when God hasn't been speaking to me. There have been times when I haven't been listening." [49:40]
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